Written during the contested Election between Sir James Johnston and Captn. Miller for the Dumfries district of Boroughs. —

There was five Carlins in the South,
They fell upon a scheme,
To send a lad to London town
To bring them tidings hame. —

Not only bring them tidings hame,
But do their errands there;
And aiblins gowd and honor baith
Might be that laddie's share. —

There was Maggy by the banks o' Nith,
A dame wi' pride enough;
And Marjory o' the mony lochs,
A Carlin auld and teugh:

And blinkin Bess of Annandale
That dwelt on Solway-side;
And Brandy Jean that took her gill
In Galloway sae wide:

And black Joan frae Crighton-peel
O' gipsey kith and kin:
Five wighter Carlins were na found
The South Coontrie within. —

To send a lad to London town,
They met upon a day;
And mony a knight and mony a laird
That errand fain wad gae. —

O mony a knight and mony a laird
That errand fain wad gae;
But nae ane could their fancy please,
O ne'er a ane but tway. —

The first ane was a belted knight,
Bred of a Border band,
And he wad gae to London town,
Might nae man him withstand. —

And he wad do their errands weel,
And meikle he wad say;
And ilka ane at London Court
Wad bid to him, Gude-day!

The niest came in a Sodger-boy
And spak wi' modest grace,
And he wad gang to London town,
If sae their pleasure was. —

He wad na hecht them courtly gifts,
Nor meikle speech pretend;
But he wad hecht an honest heart
Wad ne'er desert his friend. —

Now wham to chuse, and wham refuse,
At strife thir Carlins fell;
For some had Gentle Folk to please,
And some wad please themsel. —

Then up spak mim-mou'd Meg o' Nith,
And she spak up wi' pride,
And she wad send the Sodger-lad
Whatever might betide. —

For the Auld Gudeman o' London Court,
She didna care a pin;
But she wad send the Sodger-lad,
To greet his eldest son. —

Then started Bess of Annandale,
A deadly aith she 's taen,
That she wad vote the Border-knight,
Tho' she should vote her lane. —

" For far-off fowls hae feathers fair,
" And fools o' change are fain;
" But I hae try'd this Border-knight,
" I'll try him yet again." —

Says black Joan frae Crighton-peel,
A Carlin stoor and grim;
" The Auld Gudeman, or the Young Gudeman,
" For me may sink or swim.

" For fools will prate o' Right, and Wrang,
" While knaves laugh them to scorn;
" But the Sodger's friends hae blawn the best,
" So he shall bear the horn." —

Then Brandy Jean spak o'er her drink,
" Ye weel ken, kimmers a",
" The Auld Gudeman o' London Court,
" His back 's been at the wa":

" And mony a friend that kiss'd his caup,
" Is now a fremit wight;
" But it 's ne'er be sae wi' Brandy Jean,
" We'll send the Border-knight." —

Then slaw rase Marjory o' the lochs,
And wrinkled was her brow;
Her ancient weed was russet-grey,
Her auld Scots heart was true. —

" There 's some Great Folk set light by me,
" I set as light by them;
" But I will send to London town
" Whom I lo'e best at hame." —

So how this weighty plea may end,
Nae mortal wight can tell:
God grant the king, and ilka man,
May look weel to themsel. —